Rock Bottom

The Cubs' (lack of) offense has disappointed this season and the Cardinals' series has finally brought their manager to consider desperate measures:

"The only other option we would have -- and you all are going to like this one -- is move [Alfonso] Soriano to second and [Micah] Hoffpauir to left," Piniella said Thursday. "Hopefully, it doesn't get to that. That, again, is a measure of last resort."

What has to happen for the Cubs to do that?

"We'll explore all our other options [first]," Piniella said. "I feel very comfortable with our outfield with Soriano in left field. I want to get Hoffpauir in the lineup. I want to give everybody else the opportunity to swing the bats the way they're capable. I've talked about it with Alan [Trammell, bench coach]. I would think it's a very remote possibility, but we'll see."

Now Carrie Muskat has been taking questions for probably over a year now asking why the Cubs' don't move Soriano to second, and I've always shaken my head and complained about what absolute morons these "fans" are. Now that it is a distinct possibility, I guess they don't look so dumb for suggesting it. Now it is Piniella that seems to be the moron...

Lou is obviously as frustrated as the rest of us. All season long we've watched this team struggle at the plate. Aramis is out for an extended period of time and Lee, Bradley, and Soto have all slumped through the majority of the first 2 months. In May, Fontenot has even entered an ungodly slump leaving the team with Soriano, Fukudome, and the new found slugger Ryan Theriot, as the teams only consistent bats. With Hoffpauir appearing to be the only other productive hitter the team is capable of putting out there, Lou has to find a way to get him in the lineup, so he's getting creative.

It makes some sense when you think about the lineup in that sense. Then you have four guys that have been producing in the lineup, 3 guys that could break out in a big way at any time, and then a black hole with whoever you put at third. Have I gotten this far without mentioning that Soriano is a terrible second baseman? And that he's not expected to be any better at it after not fielding the position at all in the last few years?

You could argue that well, he's not the best left fielder either. But the problem you run into is that you're replacing him with an even worse defensive liability in left with Hoffpauir. If anyone remembers that one inning that Soriano moved to second late in the game for the Cubs on a double switch, they know it could get real ugly. He had one slow roller hit at him and he waited for it with his heels on the outfield grass. Luckily his throw barely beat the runner.

So look for this lineup coming to a field near you if Piniella does indeed turn to his last resort:

2B- Soriano - He's a leftfielder
SS- Theriot - He's more of a second baseman
CF- Fukudome - He's a right fielder
1B- Lee - He's a Gold Glover
RF- Bradley - He's a DH
C- Soto - He's a Transformer
LF- Hoffpauir - He's a first baseman
3B- Fontenot - He's a second baseman